And Furnish It with Love

April 2018

Furniture Today published a forecast of trends manufacturers have geared up to meet in 2018. Recurring themes are performance and luxury. The luxury market features velvet, silk, mohair, heavy linen, and faux fur, with fabrics with a metallic sheen gaining popularity. Performance fabrics, however, are the real trendsetters, moving from the patio to the living room. Liam Waters of Culp Fabrics said his company’s Livesmart collection is experiencing “mega-growth.” He anticipated, “within five years, all fabrics will have a performance story.” While many textiles are now manufactured to be resistant to stains, fading, and wear and tear; optional treatments; namely one called Atlas, can be applied to protect even luxury fabrics. The in-colors continue to be blues and grays, with top trends for bedrooms including browns, pale blush, and true black. Texture and Bohemian styles continue to be in-demand, but the popularity of green and sustainable products has been slow to transfer to the industry. Industry insiders are saying this is the year furniture sales will eventually catch up with consumer confidence in the construction industry.